When Cleisthenes reorganized the Athenian government in 508/7 BCE, he replaced the old Solonianboule, or council, of 400 with a new boule of 500. The old boule consisted of 100 members of each of the four ancestral tribes. Cleisthenes created ten new tribes and made the boule consist of 50 men from each of these tribes. Each tribe's delegation would be an executive of the boule for one-tenth of the year, so that ten groups of prytaneis served each year, a position granted by sortition. The executive officers were known as prytaneis and their term of office as a prytany (πρυτανία).
Dutiesedit
The prytaneis served every day during their prytany. They formally called to meeting the full boule and the ecclesia of Athens, though in practice many meetings were mandatory and evidence suggests that persuasive individuals could enjoin the prytaneis to call or not to call a supplementary meeting. The prytaneis received ambassadors from foreign states and generally conducted the day-to-day business of the state. They ate at public expense in the tholos, a circular edifice constructed for them next to the boule house.
Each day, for one 24-hour period, one member of the 50 prytaneis was selected by lot to serve as the foreman (ἐπιστάτης epistates, "caretaker"). He administered the state seal and the keys to the state treasuries and archives. He was, in effect, the chief executive officer of Athens. No man was allowed to hold this office more than once, and so probably more than half of all adult male Athenians held it, at one time or another.
During meetings of the ecclesia or boule, the current foreman also chaired these meetings. In the Fourth Century, this practice changed and the chairmanship of meetings was taken over by an office specifically created for this task (the πρόεδροι proedroi).
In other citiesedit
Prytanis as a title is used in other ancient Greek cities including Rhodes, Alexandria and other cities along the west coast of Asia Minor. Offices that use this title usually have responsibility for presiding over councils of some kind. In the city of Miletus, the prytanis had enough power that he was able to become a tyrannos (Aristotle Politics V.5, 1305a17).
Hansen, Mogens H. The Athenian Democracy in the Age of Demosthenes: Structure, Principles and Ideology. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, 1991.
Rhodes, P. J. The Athenian Boule. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1972.
Hignett, Charles. A History of the Athenian Constitution. Oxford, 1962. ISBN0-19-814213-7
January 01, 1970
prytaneis, prytanis, redirects, here, king, sparta, prytanis, king, sparta, lycian, soldier, prytanis, mythology, prytaneis, πρυτάνεις, sing, πρύτανις, prytanis, were, executives, boule, ancient, athens, contents, origins, organization, duties, other, cities, . Prytanis redirects here For king of Sparta see Prytanis king of Sparta For the Lycian soldier see Prytanis mythology The prytaneis prytaneis sing prytanis prytanis were the executives of the boule of ancient Athens Contents 1 Origins and organization 2 Duties 3 In other cities 4 References 5 SourcesOrigins and organization editThe term like basileus or tyrannos is probably of Pre Greek etymology 1 possibly cognate to Etruscan e pr8ni When Cleisthenes reorganized the Athenian government in 508 7 BCE he replaced the old Solonian boule or council of 400 with a new boule of 500 The old boule consisted of 100 members of each of the four ancestral tribes Cleisthenes created ten new tribes and made the boule consist of 50 men from each of these tribes Each tribe s delegation would be an executive of the boule for one tenth of the year so that ten groups of prytaneis served each year a position granted by sortition The executive officers were known as prytaneis and their term of office as a prytany prytania Duties editThe prytaneis served every day during their prytany They formally called to meeting the full boule and the ecclesia of Athens though in practice many meetings were mandatory and evidence suggests that persuasive individuals could enjoin the prytaneis to call or not to call a supplementary meeting The prytaneis received ambassadors from foreign states and generally conducted the day to day business of the state They ate at public expense in the tholos a circular edifice constructed for them next to the boule house Each day for one 24 hour period one member of the 50 prytaneis was selected by lot to serve as the foreman ἐpistaths epistates caretaker He administered the state seal and the keys to the state treasuries and archives He was in effect the chief executive officer of Athens No man was allowed to hold this office more than once and so probably more than half of all adult male Athenians held it at one time or another During meetings of the ecclesia or boule the current foreman also chaired these meetings In the Fourth Century this practice changed and the chairmanship of meetings was taken over by an office specifically created for this task the proedroi proedroi In other cities editPrytanis as a title is used in other ancient Greek cities including Rhodes Alexandria and other cities along the west coast of Asia Minor Offices that use this title usually have responsibility for presiding over councils of some kind In the city of Miletus the prytanis had enough power that he was able to become a tyrannos Aristotle Politics V 5 1305a17 References edit Beekes Robert 2009 Etymological Dictionary of Greek Brill Publishers p 1243 ISBN 9789004174184 Sources editHansen Mogens H The Athenian Democracy in the Age of Demosthenes Structure Principles and Ideology Oxford Blackwell Publishing 1991 Rhodes P J The Athenian Boule Oxford Clarendon Press 1972 Hignett Charles A History of the Athenian Constitution Oxford 1962 ISBN 0 19 814213 7 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Prytaneis amp oldid 1179428531, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
